Just before sunrise on October 13, 2012, your Grandmother died. I had just left with Uncle Donnie to fetch some Peets coffee and when we returned we saw your Aunt Korky in the TV room on her cell phone. Don knew that met my mom had passed.

We woke up your Grandfather at around 2:30am because your Grandmother's breathing had gotten more difficult and shallow. After struggling a bit with consciousness your Grandfather steadied himself for this. He said, "Anne Marie" with an urging that bordered on pleading. He then hugged her. He then went to take a pee. He spent the next hour standing and then sitting by her beside. She continued to labor with her breathing but was hanging in there. You grandfather eventually went to TV room, turned on the Today Show and fell asleep. Me, being jet lagged, was fully awake and sat in the chair next to him alternating between TV watching and playing with my phone.

At around 5:30am I got up and took my shower for the day while looking forward to picking up your mom at the airport in a few hours. Your uncle Don asked if I wanted to go on the morning coffee run with him and I did. We bought five large coffees and one medium. Then we came home.

In her final days your Grandmother was surrounded by her loved ones. Seven of her eight children were with her; only your Uncle Pat could not make it in time from Nigeria. The sister-n-laws were of a great help to my mom, especially Korky and Tracy who had been through this process before and provided knowing care. Your grandmother did not appear to be in much pain even when her breathing slowed down. Part of this was the medicine she was on. Part of this may have been her faith that she was going to a better place. Me, I don't know what she was going through. But she did seem at remarkable peace for someone who was dying.

At one point I brought in pictures of Aidan, Lydia, and Elisa and lied them next to her. I have no idea why really. Maybe to draw more emotion out of myself. I think mostly because she had such a connection to her grandkids and I wanted to respect that.

Faith and going to a better place is a big part of what got her and my dad through this. Me, I don't really know, but I could really feeling how strong that faith was the past few days. How they drew from that strength and leaned on it. I do hope your Grandmother is in a better place. She was in a pretty good place on this earth, based on the love in this full house over the past couple of days. There were lots of storytelling, laughs, tears, and restless nights.

Rest in peace Grandmother Allio.